Rocker arm with an oil trough

Abstract

A rocker arm assembly having a rocker arm including a pair of sidewalls, each sidewall defining a support aperture, a rocker arm support including a pair of opposed bearing support arms, each bearing support arm being disposed within a corresponding support aperture of the rocker arm and defining a lubrication groove extending along an outer surface thereof, and a pair of radial roller bearings, each including an inner cup, an outer cup, and a plurality of rollers disposed therebetween, wherein each radial roller bearing is disposed both on a corresponding bearing support arm and within a corresponding support aperture.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A rocker arm assembly comprising:
 a rocker arm including a first sidewall defining a first support aperture, and a second sidewall defining a second support aperture; 
 a rocker arm support member including a first bearing support arm and an opposed second bearing support arm, each bearing support arm defining at least one lubrication groove extending along respective outer surfaces of the first and second bearing support arms; and 
 a first radial roller bearing and a second radial roller bearing, each radial roller bearing including a plurality of rollers disposed between an inner cup and an outer cup, 
 wherein the first bearing support arm is disposed within the first support aperture via the first radial bearing, and the second bearing support arm is disposed within the second support aperture via the second radial roller bearing. 
 
     
     
       2. The rocker arm assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each at least one lubrication groove extends along an upper portion of the respective outer surfaces. 
     
     
       3. The rocker arm assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each at least one lubrication groove includes a plurality of lubrication grooves. 
     
     
       4. The rocker arm assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each inner cup has an inner cylindrical surface that is directly adjacent to a corresponding outer surface of the respective outer surfaces. 
     
     
       5. The rocker arm assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each outer cup includes a cylindrical side wall extending from a solid top wall. 
     
     
       6. The rocker arm assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each bearing support arm is cylindrical. 
     
     
       7. An internal combustion engine comprising:
 a cylinder head; 
 a poppet valve including a valve stem; 
 a valve spring disposed around the valve stem; and 
 the rocker arm assembly of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the rocker arm support member is mounted to the cylinder head via a support stud, and the rocker arm is pivotally mounted to the rocker arm support member such that a first end of the rocker arm engages the valve stem. 
 
     
     
       8. The internal combustion engine of  claim 7 , further comprising a hydraulic lash adjuster configured to engage a second end of the rocker arm. 
     
     
       9. The rocker arm assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each at least one lubrication groove extends along an upper portion of the respective outer surfaces. 
     
     
       10. The rocker arm assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each at least one lubrication groove includes a plurality of lubrication grooves. 
     
     
       11. The rocker arm assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each inner cup has an inner cylindrical surface that is directly adjacent to a corresponding outer surface of the respective outer surfaces. 
     
     
       12. The rocker arm assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each outer cup includes a cylindrical side wall extending from a solid top wall.